Small plastic dropper bottles in which to store your test chemicals are difficult to find on the high street, but can be found on the Internet. You might ask friends prescribed eye-drops or purchasing ear-wax softeners to recycle appropriate containers in the best possible sense and save them for you.

Commonly used test chemicals, which must be fresh/tested for freshness are:

K - potassium hydroxide

C – bleach

I – iodine

Pd - para-phenylenediamine

weak acid

These notes advise on suitable substitutes and cautions to be observed when using them. Wash any spills immediately, preferably under running water.

Some reactions are best observed under the microscope. A dissecting microscope is best for the thallus or medulla with the colour taken up onto absorbent paper. A compound microscope on x100 magnification is recommended when looking for diagnostic crystals which may form when certain chemicals are bled under the coverslip and react with the lichen.

K – potassium hydroxide

Many keys depend on the spot reactions given by potassium (K) in the form of potassium hydroxide. An easily obtained alternative may be found in a solution of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), which can be purchased at any DIY store and a solution made up with water. The strength is not critical but about 10% caustic soda to 90% water by volume should work well. The solution should be tested on Xanthoria; if there is an almost instant crimson reaction, the strength is suitable. As it is caustic, strictly follow the warnings on the bottle; observe the usual precautions to prevent it getting on the skin, in the eyes, mouth etc.

C – bleach

Alan Orange recommends that the best source of bleach (calcium hypochlorite – C) is Milton Sterilising Fluid which you will find in the baby sections of shops; domestic bleaches may contain potassium or sodium ions which may give false colour reactions.

C must be fresh. Test it each time with a common lichen such as Ochrolechia androgyna; if the lichen does not give a really bright colour reaction the chemical should be discarded and fresh made up. One of the commonest errors in identification arises from false negative tests with C.

Some C reactions are fleeting and others are not very intense so it is essential to perform these tests carefully under a dissecting microscope.

Tests for C+ medulla in the field tend to be unreliable.

KC and CK.

These stains can be used sequentially, most commonly as K followed by C. First apply K and soak up the excess with absorbent paper; immediately thereafter apply C. Occasionally a diagnostic reaction requires them to be applied in the order C followed by K – different colour reactions occur with some lichen substances depending on the order of application!

I – Iodine

In addition to colour reactions, iodine in the form of Lugol’s solution is used to aid microscopical examination of asci; it is made by dissolving 0.5 g of iodine and 1.5 g of potassium iodide in 100 ml of distilled water.

Another form of iodine is Melzer’s solution which is made by dissolving 1.0 g of iodine, 1.5 g of potassium iodide in 50 ml of distilled water plus 50 g of chloral hydrate. Its advantages are that it clears the preparation, making complex structures more transparent; its high viscosity prevents flow movements of spores.

Pd - para-phenylenediamine

Pd is mutagenic, allergenic and may be carcinogenic. It is toxic by inhalation and skin contact; great care should be exercised when using it.

It is most safely used as Steiner’s solution, a stable form of this stain, made by dissolving 1 g of Pd, 10 g of sodium sulphite, and 0.5 ml of detergent in 100 ml of water.

Weak acid

Keys may ask you to decide whether a stone is siliceous or calcareous. If, when observed under a hand lens, it fizzes with lemon juice (from a plastic lemon), this should be sufficient to verify limestone.

Safe disposal

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are included with chemicals on delivery from official suppliers; if obtained privately this information should be passed on. Safety information may change with time as better understanding of hazards develops and should be kept up to date.

UV-fluorescence

A UV torch can be very useful in the field as well as in the lab. There are various UV torches on the market, some of higher quality than others, but you will need one of 365nm wavelength and 1W or 3W is usually the best choice. The lamp should be used in the dark and time allowed for the eyes to adapt to the low light levels emitted by the fluorescence. It is useful to have a fluorescent lichen (e.g. Cladonia portentosa) to hand for comparison.

All UV light, be it UVA or UVB, is hazardous, and exposure to UV light should be kept to a minimum. Be sure to use a protective screen or shield if advised, and do not look directly at the light. UV light can cause skin cancer and damage to eyes.

SUMMARY OF SIMPLE LICHEN TESTS

Many identification keys use the results of some very simple tests which are suitable for use by beginners to lichenology. These tests are summarized here.

Reagents/

tests

Formula

Positive reactions

Examples (use these species to test that the reagent is working)

Notes

K

10% solution of potassium hydroxide in water; replace when old or cloudy.